We're joined by Brent Todd this week, who was the moderator/coordinator/lead-cat-herder of the Facebook group for our recent cruise on the Disney Wish. If you're not familiar with cruise groups, essentially these are community forums run by fellow cruisers on your specific sailing that allow you to meet others, ask questions and learn from folks who have cruised before, plan activities onboard, and generally get as plugged in as you want to the temporary little town that will be your upcoming cruise. We talk about Todd's experiences as a 3-time group admin, how he works to build community, and the benefits of participating in or even running a cruise group.We had a great time talking with Brent, so much so that we had to cut a bunch of our conversation out to keep this episode manageable. Stay tuned for a bonus episode soon!----Adventures & Mousecapades is a passion project from Alicea & Nathan Novak - two Seattlites addicted to The Mouse. We are not affiliated with Disney, nor are we travel agents. Opinions are our own.Instagram, Twitter, Facebook: @ourmousecapadesOurMousecapades.compodcast@ourmousecapades.com

This week we’re joined by friends and neighbors Kristin and Ryan to compare notes on the Disney Wish. They, along with their two daughters, are Castaway Gold cruisers with 4 voyages on the Wish under their belt (2 back-to-backs). It was really great to hear their perspective on the Wish, and hear about their rather rough voyage to Nassau a couple months ago.If you haven’t seen it, here’s the video we mentioned of the Wish coming into port during a storm in Nassau on 11 April, 2023. ----Adventures & Mousecapades is a passion project from Alicea & Nathan Novak - two Seattlites addicted to The Mouse. We are not affiliated with Disney, nor are we travel agents. Opinions are our own.Instagram, Twitter, Facebook: @ourmousecapadesOurMousecapades.compodcast@ourmousecapades.com

We close our our March 2023 anniversary coverage with a trip report covering all the awesome stuff we did in Disney World that wasn't onboard the Disney Wish. We got to experience Tron: Lightcycle Run during the soft opening, made our first visit to Space 220, had our camera phone stolen by a wild cowboy at Whispering Canyon Cafe, and tried to save the world at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. A few days in the parks. Several amazing meals. Lots of great times with our best friends. ----Adventures & Mousecapades is a passion project from Alicea & Nathan Novak - two Seattlites addicted to The Mouse. We are not affiliated with Disney, nor are we travel agents. Opinions are our own.Instagram, Twitter, Facebook: @ourmousecapadesOurMousecapades.compodcast@ourmousecapades.com

This week we're joined by Jenna, who recently completed her first in person runDisney weekend during the Springtime Surprise event at Walt Disney World. After doing some local 5K and even a virtual half marathon, she completed a 5K, 10K, and 10 mile race in Florida. Jenna is proof positive that with a positive attitude you can do just about anything, and was honestly kind of inspiring for us. I think this quote from her sums up what a runDisney event is like really well..."Showing up at the start line is what really requires courage... You can do anything and you'll have the Disney magic to get you through!"----Adventures & Mousecapades is a passion project from Alicea & Nathan Novak - two Seattlites addicted to The Mouse. We are not affiliated with Disney, nor are we travel agents. Opinions are our own.Instagram, Twitter, Facebook: @ourmousecapadesOurMousecapades.compodcast@ourmousecapades.com

We've had a lot going on this week, including a big Disney-related decision that will impact our vacationing for years to come. Join us as we sit down to walk through what we have on the calendar already for our Disney travel over the next year or so, and reveal why we might be visiting Anaheim much more frequently in the years to come. And of course, there's a healthy dose of banter between ours-truly. (Did I use that right?)----Adventures & Mousecapades is a passion project from Alicea & Nathan Novak - two Seattlites addicted to The Mouse. We are not affiliated with Disney, nor are we travel agents. Opinions are our own.Instagram, Twitter, Facebook: @ourmousecapadesOurMousecapades.compodcast@ourmousecapades.com

We conclude our tour of the Disney Wish by stepping through The Rose bar, and discovering the DCL fleet's newest adults-only dining experiences: Enchanté and Palo Steakhouse. While we didn't take the opportunity to dine in the Lumiere-inspired Enchanté, we were able to enjoy both a brunch and a dinner at Palo Steakhouse. Both spaces are stunningly gorgeous, and we can speak with authority when we say Palo Steakhouse carries on the DCL Palo legacy with flying colors. Don't listen to this episode hungry!----Adventures & Mousecapades is a passion project from Alicea & Nathan Novak - two Seattlites addicted to The Mouse. We are not affiliated with Disney, nor are we travel agents. Opinions are our own.Instagram, Twitter, Facebook: @ourmousecapadesOurMousecapades.compodcast@ourmousecapades.com

This week we continue our detailed tour of the Disney Wish, focusing on food and beverages onboard. There are multiple cafes, three main dining rooms, two fancy restaurants, and more bars than you can shake a stick at. Oh, BBQ and tacos make their debut on the DCL fleet too! You might want to make sure you've had at least a snack before listening to this episode.----Adventures & Mousecapades is a passion project from Alicea & Nathan Novak - two Seattlites addicted to The Mouse. We are not affiliated with Disney, nor are we travel agents. Opinions are our own.Instagram, Twitter, Facebook: @ourmousecapadesOurMousecapades.compodcast@ourmousecapades.com

Since we both work in Big Tech, we love to use acronyms and have quarterly business reviews. So this week, we're turning our lens on Big Mouse with our Quarterly Disney Report focusing on the goings on at Disney from January through March 2023. Disney goes to 100, Oswald goes into public domain, Splash Mountain goes away, and Rockin' Roller Coaster goes down. It's all the news you can use!----Adventures & Mousecapades is a passion project from Alicea & Nathan Novak - two Seattlites addicted to The Mouse. We are not affiliated with Disney, nor are we travel agents. Opinions are our own.Instagram, Twitter, Facebook: @ourmousecapadesOurMousecapades.compodcast@ourmousecapades.com

This week we walk through the various spaces and activities aboard the beautiful Disney Wish. Whether you're looking for a Broadway-class show, some DCL merch, or a great spot to have a night cap, the Wish has you covered. It's definitely different than the other DCL ships, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. While we think they could have made a few different decisions, we never felt like the ship was overcrowded - and it was a completely full voyage. Let's find out where your favorite spot on the Disney Wish might be!----Adventures & Mousecapades is a passion project from Alicea & Nathan Novak - two Seattlites addicted to The Mouse. We are not affiliated with Disney, nor are we travel agents. Opinions are our own.Instagram, Twitter, Facebook: @ourmousecapadesOurMousecapades.compodcast@ourmousecapades.com

Join us as we come to you live on tape from Concierge room 12502 aboard the beautiful Disney Wish (okay, it was digitally recorded). We wanted to capture our initial impressions of the new vessel, so we recorded this episode after being onboard for 24 hours. Are the problems you may have heard about really as bad as they're made out to be? Were our expectations met, or maybe even exceeded? We also had the opportunity to enjoy Serenity Bay on Castaway Cay for the first time, so that's included here too.In the coming weeks we'll be diving deep into the Wish's food options, entertainment,  spaces, activities, and shopping onboard, so make sure you're subscribed in your favorite podcast app!----Adventures & Mousecapades is a passion project from Alicea & Nathan Novak - two Seattlites addicted to The Mouse. We are not affiliated with Disney, nor are we travel agents. Opinions are our own.Instagram, Twitter, Facebook: @ourmousecapadesOurMousecapades.compodcast@ourmousecapades.com

We're joined this week by our old friend McCayla, who's recently launched her own Instagram channel called Mickey_and_MC. She's an amazing mom with a passion for Disneyland, and that really comes across in her awesome content. For this episode we talked through bringing kids of various ages to Disneyland. McCayla shared some stories and perspectives with us about 5 age groups: under 3, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, teens. Of course we also talked about tips for us adults too, along with a healthy dose of just joking around and catching up. This was a FUN episode to record!McCayla highly recommends the "Unoffical Guide" series. If you're interested, here's the Disneyland version she talks about: The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2023 - The Unofficial Guides----Adventures & Mousecapades is a passion project from Alicea & Nathan Novak - two Seattlites addicted to The Mouse. We are not affiliated with Disney, nor are we travel agents. Opinions are our own.Instagram, Twitter, Facebook: @ourmousecapadesOurMousecapades.compodcast@ourmousecapades.com

This week we're joined by Ashley, a two-time Disney College Program participant, who shares with us what the DCP is all about and what her experiences have been. Learn about the program's opportunities to work in the parks, where DCP'ers get to live, what the qualification requirements are, and what the application process is like. Ashley personifies what Disney magic is all about, and we're so delighted to have had a chance to meet her. You're going to love this episode!Ironically, right after we recorded this episode we saw that the Disney Programs team is starting a special mini series of podcasts, videos, and other content about the Disney College Program. Even better, it's co-hosted by the fabulous Holly - who we watched grow up from a little kid at our church. It's a small world, after all!!!For more information on the Disney College Program, check out these resources:Disney Programs (disneycareers.com)Disney Programs Blog - Life at Disney <-- podcast linked here tooDisney College Program Opt-In (disneycareers.com) <-- sign up for updates from DCPDisney Programs (@officialdisneyprograms) on Instagram----Adventures & Mousecapades is a passion project from Alicea & Nathan Novak - two Seattlites addicted to The Mouse. We are not affiliated with Disney, nor are we travel agents. Opinions are our own.Instagram, Twitter, Facebook: @ourmousecapadesOurMousecapades.compodcast@ourmousecapades.com

This week's episode is a dive into the world of the modern pop culture convention. Alicea frequently works at Emerald City Comic Con, and has even traveled to help out at conventions in Portland, New York, and even last year's Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim. The tables are turned in this episode as the kids interview Alicea about her experiences and what keeps her coming back year after year. And of course Alicea returns the favor, asking the kids about what they enjoyed most at this year's ECCC.----Adventures & Mousecapades is a passion project from Alicea & Nathan Novak - two Seattlites addicted to The Mouse. We are not affiliated with Disney, nor are we travel agents. Opinions are our own.Instagram, Twitter, Facebook: @ourmousecapadesOurMousecapades.compodcast@ourmousecapades.com

Inspired by our 11 year old, and a meme Allears.net posted on Instagram a few months ago, this week we're playing a quick round of "Would you rather..." with the family - and of course it's Disney related! Do we value resorts more than food? Is it better to live in a universe with Star Wars or Marvel super heroes? We'll answer these burning questions and more on this week's episode!----Adventures & Mousecapades is a passion project from Alicea & Nathan Novak - two Seattlites addicted to The Mouse. We are not affiliated with Disney, nor are we travel agents. Opinions are our own.Instagram, Twitter, Facebook: @ourmousecapadesOurMousecapades.compodcast@ourmousecapades.com

Alicea and Nathan took a long weekend trip from Seattle to Orlando in late-April 2018 to meet back up with our amazing friends from our Mexican Riviera cruise the previous Fall. We reminisce about hanging out with amazing people, eating incredible food, having a couple drinks, and enjoying one of the most amazing mornings in Magic Kingdom imaginable. We even spent a day at Kennedy Space Center nerding out. This was a great trip!----Adventures & Mousecapades is a passion project from Alicea & Nathan Novak - two Seattlites addicted to The Mouse. We are not affiliated with Disney, nor are we travel agents. Opinions are our own.Instagram, Twitter, Facebook: @ourmousecapadesOurMousecapades.compodcast@ourmousecapades.com

This week is a little self-indulgent, but it's an amazing episode nonetheless. Our guest is David Novak, and if that surname sounds familiar it's because he's Nathan's dad. David grew up in the heart of classic Disney animation in the 40s and 50s, and we talk about it's influences on him and his journey as an artist. Even today, the magic of Disney captures him and brings joy and wonder. Don't miss this very special episode.----Adventures & Mousecapades is a passion project from Alicea & Nathan Novak - two Seattlites addicted to The Mouse. We are not affiliated with Disney, nor are we travel agents. Opinions are our own.Instagram, Twitter, Facebook: @ourmousecapadesOurMousecapades.compodcast@ourmousecapades.com

That's right, we've got AMY ADAMS on the podcast this week! The incomparable star of big tech known to her family far and wide recently joined the planDisney panel and joins us to talk about what planDisney is, her journey to joining, and the amazing experiences she has helping people plan their perfect vacations. A big thank you to Amy for her time spent with us, and to Jen from the planDisney program for working with us to make this episode happen.You can learn more about Amy or ask her a question at Meet Amy A | planDisney (go.com).You can find the planDisney panel on their website Disney Vacation Tips and Advice | planDisney (go.com), follow them on Instagram (@plandisneypanel), Twitter (@plandisney), and see PD content on the Disney Parks - YouTube channel.----Adventures & Mousecapades is a passion project from Alicea & Nathan Novak - two Seattlites addicted to The Mouse. We are not affiliated with Disney, nor are we travel agents. Opinions are our own.Instagram, Twitter, Facebook: @ourmousecapadesOurMousecapades.compodcast@ourmousecapades.com

This week we welcome Jenni Berry to the podcast, fresh off her week long western Caribbean cruise on the Disney Fantasy that included fourth-ever Pixar Day at Sea! This brand new offering on select cruises includes unique character experiences, a special Pixar-inspired dinner menu, dance parties, new character visits in the kids clubs, a Pixar friends breakfast extravaganza, plus an Incredibles fireworks show in addition to the regular Pirate Night celebration! Of course on top of that you also get all that Disney Cruise Line has to offer on a regular 7-night sailing. You don't want to miss this one!----Adventures & Mousecapades is a passion project from Alicea & Nathan Novak - two Seattlites addicted to The Mouse. We are not affiliated with Disney, nor are we travel agents. Opinions are our own.Instagram, Twitter, Facebook: @ourmousecapadesOurMousecapades.compodcast@ourmousecapades.com

While a Disney cruise is an experience of a lifetime, it may not be the right "home port" for everyone.  This week we welcome Alicea's "little" brother Joe to the podcast, along with his wife Kristen and their 5 year old daughter Maddy, who just took their first Disney cruise. We talk about the magic of a Disney experience for kiddos, and compare DCL to their usual option of Carnival Cruise Line. ----Adventures & Mousecapades is a passion project from Alicea & Nathan Novak - two Seattlites addicted to The Mouse. We are not affiliated with Disney, nor are we travel agents. Opinions are our own.Instagram, Twitter, Facebook: @ourmousecapadesOurMousecapades.compodcast@ourmousecapades.com

Our kids get a solo trip with one of us for their thirteenth birthday, and in this episode Kaitlyn tries to remember a few highlights from her time in Disney World and back-to-back cruises on the Disney Wonder. It's incredible - they actually hit 5 PARKS in a single day (MK twice), plus got to do a VIP tour, and two stops in Castaway Cay  on top of that. What a birthday!----Adventures & Mousecapades is a passion project from Alicea & Nathan Novak - two Seattlites addicted to The Mouse. We are not affiliated with Disney, nor are we travel agents. Opinions are our own.Instagram, Twitter, Facebook: @ourmousecapadesOurMousecapades.compodcast@ourmousecapades.com